Difference between revisions of "FM Sound Unit"

From Sega Retro

Line 42: Line 42:
 
|cols=3}}
 
|cols=3}}
  
Out of these, only ''Wonder Boy III'' is known to have been released in South Korea. However, the FM audio in ''Wonder Boy III'' will only function with a Japanese system equipped with FM audio capabilities; Western consoles modified with FM audio use PSG due to the game's region detection code. This can only be bypassed with a hardware modification or a hack in the game's code.
+
Out of these, only ''Wonder Boy III'' is known to have been released in South Korea. However, the FM audio in ''Wonder Boy III'' will only function with a Japanese system equipped with FM audio capabilities; Western consoles modified with FM audio use PSG due to the game's region detection code. However, the Wii Virtual Console version allows using the FM audio.
  
 
''[[Great Baseball (1985)]]'', ''[[Pit Pot]]'' and ''[[Teddy Boy Blues]]'' have control issues when the FM Sound Unit is connected, and Sega included a special notice with the add-on to let owners know of these compatibility issues.
 
''[[Great Baseball (1985)]]'', ''[[Pit Pot]]'' and ''[[Teddy Boy Blues]]'' have control issues when the FM Sound Unit is connected, and Sega included a special notice with the add-on to let owners know of these compatibility issues.

Revision as of 15:53, 10 June 2019

FMSoundUnit 2.jpg
FM Sound Unit
Made for: Sega Mark III
Manufacturer: Sega
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Master System
JP
¥6,8006,800[1] FM-70

The FM Sound Unit (FMサウンドユニット) is an add-on for the Sega Mark III used to enhance the sound output of certain Mark III games. It was sold in Japan from 1987 for ¥6,800.

The FM Sound Unit contains a YM2413 FM chip that acts on top of the built-in SN76489 PSG chip, adding nine extra mono sound channels. When the redesigned Sega Master System hit the Japanese market, the FM Sound Unit was built-in to the console (though it is absent from international releases).

Unfortunately not all Mark III or Sega Master System games made use of this feature. The unit was not built into the Sega Mega Drive or Power Base Converter, so these extra features cannot be activated when playing Master System games on Sega's 16-bit console.

List of supported games

Note: Only the Japanese versions of Phantasy Star and Ys: The Vanished Omens have FM Sound Unit support.

The following games have FM soundtracks but were not released in Japan:

Out of these, only Wonder Boy III is known to have been released in South Korea. However, the FM audio in Wonder Boy III will only function with a Japanese system equipped with FM audio capabilities; Western consoles modified with FM audio use PSG due to the game's region detection code. However, the Wii Virtual Console version allows using the FM audio.

Great Baseball (1985), Pit Pot and Teddy Boy Blues have control issues when the FM Sound Unit is connected, and Sega included a special notice with the add-on to let owners know of these compatibility issues.

Physical scans

Master System, JP
FMSoundUnit SMS JP Box Front.jpg
Cover

External links

References


Sega Master System
Topics Sega Master System | Technical Specifications (Hardware Comparison) | History | Boot ROM | Magazine articles | Promotional material | Merchandise
Hardware Asia | North America | Western Europe | Eastern Europe | South America | Australasia | Africa

Sega Mark III | Sega Game Box 9 | Master System Girl | Master System Super Compact | Kiosk | Sega System E

Add-ons Demo Unit II | Telecon Pack | FM Sound Unit | 3-D Glasses
Controllers SJ-152 | Control Pad | 3-D Glasses | Control Stick | Handle Controller | Light Phaser | Paddle Control | Rapid Fire Unit | Sports Pad | SG Commander
Misc. Hardware Action Replay | Card Catcher | Action Case | Freedom Connection | Playkit
Unreleased Floppy Disk Drive
Consoles-on-a-chip Arcade Gamer Portable | TF-DVD560 | DVD Karaoke Game DVT-G100 | Fun Play 20-in-1 | Handheld Electronic Games | Master System 3 Collection | Master System 3 | Master System Evolution | Master System Handy | PlayPal Plug & Play | Poga